Firefighter&#39;s mountable, releasable, rope deployment bag

ABSTRACT

A firefighter&#39;s mountable, releasable, rope deployment bag, comprising a bag with an opening through which a rope can be deployed, a rope stowed in the bag, with the bag removably coupled to a firefighter&#39;s personal equipment.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority of Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/205,512, filed on May 19, 2001.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates to a firefighter's mountable, releasable, rope deployment bag.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Firefighters frequently wear a S.C.B.A. (Self Contained Breathing Apparatus) when entering buildings for search and rescue or firefighting operations.

[0004] Heretofore, rope deployment bags used by firefighters for these operations were either hand carried, carried in pockets, or hung from belts by means of snap hooks or webbing loops. These methods made their use cumbersome due to the inconvenient location of the bag. In addition, some of these methods of attachment were difficult to operate in the event emergency removal of the bag became necessary. The term “rope” as used herein comprises any rope or line.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] This invention features a firefighter's mountable, releasable, rope deployment bag, comprising: a bag with an opening through which a rope can be deployed; a rope stowed in the bag; and means for removably coupling the bag to a firefighter's personal equipment. The personal equipment may comprise a S.C.B.A. apparatus that may have a harness with a strap. The means for removably coupling the bag to the equipment may comprise an attachment plate, and means for removably coupling the plate to the bag. The means for removably coupling the plate to the bag may comprise a plurality of snap members on the bag, and an equal plurality of complementary snap members on the plate. The means for removably coupling the bag to the equipment may comprise a pair of slots defined in the plate.

[0006] In accordance with the present invention a S.C.B.A. mountable rope deployment bag comprises an enclosed rectangular nylon bag containing rope which is opened by pulling a web handle. This bag can be attached to or rapidly removed from the shoulder strap of a S.C.B.A. harness or the firefighter's waist belt, or another piece of the firefighter's personal equipment, by means of a separate plastic attachment plate. An internal web lanyard alerts the user to the end of a deployed rope. An alternate means of attachment to a S.C.B.A. harness waist belt is provided by a web strap. A grommet reinforced hole in the bottom of the bag provides for drainage.

[0007] Objects and Advantages

[0008] Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the present invention are:

[0009] (a) to provide a rope bag which will attach securely and unobtrusively to a S.C.B.A. harness;

[0010] (b) to provide a rope bag which can quickly and easily be removed from a S.C.B.A. harness when necessary;

[0011] (c) to provide a rope bag that allows convenient access when necessary;

[0012] (d) to provide a rope bag that can rapidly be exchanged between harnesses with the use of additional attachment plates;

[0013] (e) to provide a rope bag closure which reduces chance of accidental opening while remaining easy to operate;

[0014] (f) to provide a rope bag which alerts the user to the end of a deployed rope;

[0015] (g) to provide a rope bag with an alternate means of attachment to a S.C.B.A. harness;

[0016] (h) to provide a rope bag which protects its contents from damage;

[0017] (i) to provide a rope bag design which is scaleable in size to allow for variation in the contents.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

[0018]FIG. 1A shows a front view of a closed rope bag of the invention.

[0019]FIG. 1B shows a rear isometric view of the closed rope bag with attachment plate of the invention.

[0020]FIG. 2A shows the attachment plate.

[0021]FIG. 2B shows a back view of the open rope bag without attachment plate.

[0022]FIG. 3A shows the attachment plate installed on a S.C.B.A. shoulder strap.

[0023]FIG. 3B shows a completed rope bag installation on a S.C.B.A. shoulder strap.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0024] Reference Numerals in Drawings 10 rope bag 28 opening handle 12 back panel 30 drainage hole grommet 14 closure flap 32 web loop 16 closure flap snap sockets 34 web lanyard 18 closure flap snap studs 36 lower shoulder strap 20 snap socket array for attachment plate 38 upper shoulder strap 22 attachment plate snap stud array 40 adjustment buckle 24 attachment plate 42 waist belt 26 slot 44 bottom panel

[0025] A preferred embodiment of the mountable rope deployment bag of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1A (front view) and FIG. 1B (rear isometric view). Rope bag 10 (FIG. 1A) is comprised of a waterproof, abrasion resistant nylon fabric sewn into an enclosed rectangular shape the dimensions of which are approximately 8″ long×4″ wide×2.25″ thick. The dimensions of the bag can be varied depending on the volume of the bags contents. The entire back panel 12 (FIG. 2B) of the bag is stiffened by a sheet of high density polyethylene 0.050″ thick inserted into an internal sleeve of nylon fabric sewn into the bag. This sheet aids in maintaining the shape of the bag and provides a strong foundation for the attachment of an array of six heavy duty nickel plated snaps (all snap hardware used is of this type). Snap socket array 20 (FIG. 2B) mates with matching snap stud array 22 (FIG. 2A) on attachment plate 24 (FIG. 2A).

[0026] Attachment plate 24 is comprised of a sheet of high density polyethylene 0.050″ thick the dimensions of which are approximately 7″ long×4″ wide. Two slots 26 (FIG. 2A) perpendicular to and centered on the long axis pass through the upper half of attachment plate 24; these slots having dimensions of approximately 2″ long×0.25″ wide and are separated by approximately 1.5″. The corners of attachment plate 24 are typically radiused to avoid snagging. A web lanyard 34 (FIG. 2B) approximately 24″ long of 1″ wide nylon web is sewn by one end to the interior of the bottom panel 44 (FIG. 1A). The unattached end is sewn into a loop of approximately 1″ diameter. As described below, the rope (not shown in the drawings for clarity purposes only) is attached to this loop. Opening handle 28 (FIG. 2B) consisting of approximately 9″ of 1″ wide nylon web is sewn at both ends to the top edge of closure flap 14 (FIG. 2B). Two closure flap snap sockets 16 (FIG. 2B) on the top edge of closure flap 14 mate with two matching closure flap snap studs 18 (FIG. 2B) mounted on the top edge of back panel 12. Web loop 32 (FIG. 2B) consisting of approximately 7″ of 1.5″ wide nylon web is sewn by both ends to the center area of back plate 12. A 0.25″ diameter nickel plated drainage hole grommet 30 (FIG. 1A) reinforces a drainage hole in bottom panel 44 of rope bag 10.

[0027] The manner of using the S.C.B.A. mountable rope deployment bag first begins with its attachment to the shoulder strap of a S.C.B.A. harness. Attachment plate 24 is illustrated connected to rope bag 10 in FIG. 1B. Remove attachment plate 24 from back panel 12 by pulling from one edge until snap stud array 22 disengages from snap socket array 20. Remove lower shoulder strap 36 of the left shoulder strap of a S.C.B.A. harness from upper shoulder strap 38 by unthreading it from adjustment buckle 40. Thread the free end of lower shoulder strap 36 through slot 26 closest to the center of attachment plate 24 starting from the side opposite the protruding snap stud array 22 and back through the upper slot. After completion of this operation, rethread lower shoulder strap 36 back through adjustment buckle 40. FIG. 3A illustrates an attachment plate installed on the shoulder strap of a S.C.B.A. harness.

[0028] To connect rope bag 10 to attachment plate 24, orient rope bag 10 so that opening handle 28 end of the bag is closest to adjustment buckle 40. Align snap socket array 20 on back panel 12 with snap stud array 22 on attachment plate 24 and engage all six snaps by pressing firmly on each snap until an audible “snap” sound is heard. A completed installation of a rope bag on a S.C.B.A. harness shoulder strap is illustrated in FIG. 3B. At this point the S.C.B.A. unit may be donned and used in the usual manner. To deploy a rope from the rope bag, locate opening handle 28 and pull it away from rope bag 10 causing closure flap snap studs 18 to disengage from closure flap snap sockets 16. This action causes closure flap 14 to open, allowing access to the rope carried by the bag. An open rope bag is illustrated in FIG. 2B.

[0029] In the event rapid removal of the rope bag becomes necessary, grasp rope bag 10 and pull it away from attachment plate 24 until snap stud array 22 disengages from snap socket array 20. This action will release the rope bag from the S.C.B.A. harness.

[0030] Web lanyard 34 (FIG. 2B) will alert the rope bag user to the end of a deployed rope by means of the rope end having been attached to the loop on the free end of web lanyard 34 by means of a snap link prior to packing the rope into the rope bag. An alternate means of attaching rope bag 10 to S.C.B.A. harness waist belt 42 is provided by passing waist belt 42 through web loop 32 on back panel 12. In the event water should enter the bag, drainage is effected by a hole reinforced by drainage hole grommet 30 in bottom panel 44. 

1. A firefighter's mountable, releasable, rope deployment bag, comprising: a bag with an opening through which a rope can be deployed; a rope stowed in the bag; and means for removably coupling the bag to a firefighter's personal equipment.
 2. The firefighter's mountable, releasable, rope deployment bag of claim 1 , wherein the personal equipment comprises a S.C.B.A. apparatus.
 3. The firefighter's mountable, releasable, rope deployment bag of claim 2 wherein the equipment includes a harness with a strap.
 4. The firefighter's mountable, releasable, rope deployment bag of claim 1 , wherein the means for removably coupling comprises an attachment plate, and means for removably coupling the plate to the bag.
 5. The firefighter's mountable, releasable, rope deployment bag of claim 4 , wherein the means for removably coupling the plate to the bag comprises a plurality of snap members on the bag, and an equal plurality of complementary snap members on the plate.
 6. The firefighter's mountable, releasable, rope deployment bag of claim 4 , wherein the means for removably coupling the bag to the equipment comprises a pair of slots defined in the plate. 